- The score is based almost exclusively on Eminem's rapping. I did not find anything else to be redeeming or enjoyable.
- He is not funny. Nothing here makes me laugh or even crack a smile. When 2 Chainz makes jokes like the one I singled out, he at least sounds like he's having fun. Em sounds like he's doing so out of spite. That's not fun and it's definitely not funny.
- I am not planning on being dragged into a discussion about his bigotry. I find it to be self evident and something no longer worth arguing over. It is a fact of his art, and I will not discredit him because of it as I do not do so for anyone else. It is something that is undeniable, however, and any criticisms of that language are deserved. I just did not want to add length to an already 1300 word review about a crap album to talk about something that's been beaten to death.
- Calling himself "rap bot" seems oddly accurate now that I've heard the whole record. There's little in the way of emotional expression that doesn't sound like it was pumped out by something trying to emulate human emotion in order to manipulate the audience.
- He is likely the best rapper alive. Unfortunately for everyone listening, he sucks at making music.
- MMLP is a good album.

it's a well written review but we'll just have to agree to disagree. I think this is a good album.

you specifically called out Stronger Than I Was as laughable, whereas I love it. you talk about how the only redeeming thing about the album is how he raps well, but what about all the things he's doing differently, with tracks like Stronger Than I Was or So Far? those two are definitely in the top half of the album.

It's plodding rhythm, his voice is strained in all the wrong ways, there's nothing to suggest even an iota of genuine feeling behind it. It comes off as something that he either felt he "had" to write for emotional cred or something. It's still littered with the same stupid bullshit he's saying on the other fifteen tracks.

I really can't fathom finding anything about "So Far" enjoyable haha. Everything about it seems slapped together in the most careless way and without any kind of consideration for a song should actually be structured and divided up into suites/compartments. Instead it's like he stitched together the most irritating traditions in rock music without thinking about what the final product would look like.

dicks butt kiss....dick butkus. If you are going to pick at his lines at least understand the pun first.
Not huge on this album either way. Still love when he goes into complex rhymes and some of his oddball references are refreshing when compared to new school rappers tendencies to use the same shit.
Too often am I rolling my eyes at something he says though, and that can be said for most of his tracks this past decade.

I literally just copy/pasted the lyrics from a website haha. I didn't even think to check if the pun was accurate. If RG had been available, well...

I dunno, I felt something from it. I don't find this album as dialed in as a lot of people here seem to. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems like Em is pretty self-aware, even going so far on Recovery to apologize for Relapse and Encore; he's trying to prove to himself and his fans that he's still one of the greatest ever, not just putting out an album for a payday.

as for So Far, upon first listen I was just like "what the fuck is even happening on this track?" but I think the whole album and that song in particular absolutely get better with every listen.

I mean, hey, more power to you if it works for you. I just find it irritating after 10 tracks preceding it filled with various degrees of garbage haha. He's definitely self aware, but it's not helping him at all. If anything it's just making him cater to what he *thinks* he should be making, which as we see here, is a pretty boring retread of a lot of the thematic content he already explored and conquered fourteen years ago.

35%? seriously..there has to be some kind of bias..there is no way this album is anywhere close to that bad..It is by far NOT his best but..35% the technicality alone should allow for a better score barring any lyrical content at all..AP seems to always be extremely negatively biased towards em..for reasons I really cannot understand..This is not his best effort..but the album is defiantly enjoyable and full of talent..and fuck the same people calling for "old eminem" are offended when he says ******? SERIOUSLY?

The review was well written, but I have to completely disagree with the assessment. I love this album, including the bonus tracks. I feel like he finally fell back in to a stride where he is comfortable rapping and putting some light hearted songs on the album. Sampling Joe Walsh and The Zombies made for some different sounds for an Eminem album without coming off depressing or somber like some of his last two efforts. I love Em, and while Relapse fell completely short for me, recovery had some quality moments. MMLP2 is an interesting and entertaining album and I feel like it is a quality piece of work.

If there was something positive outside of the pure ability showcased, it was the choice of production. Unfortunately, what would have been something fascinating and interesting in nearly any other instance felt like it existed entirely separately from everything else happening on those tracks, just totally disconnected from whatever story he was trying (and failing) to tell.

I haven't heard the album yet so I'm not speaking for its quality and I'm not disregarding this review or calling it invalid but this is the first negative review of this album I've seen. It's being well received everywhere else I've seen it reviewed.

Metacritic only has 10 up but two are "mixed." I would also argue that publications like XXL, HiphipDX, LA Times, Spin, and RS are garbage and should not be taken seriously.

More publications will be putting up reviews today and throughout the week. For instance, if Pitchfork reviews it, I really don't see it coming out positive. Not that it matters. I'd be happy to be among the only negative reviews of the album, because I think no one will give a shit about it in a year's time.

...And a "punk" website reviewing a rap/hiphop album should be taken seriously?

Get off your high horse.

This is not a punk site. I listen to hip hop and the related genres more than anything other than dance or ambient dance music. I didn't say my opinion is worth anything but I personally find those publications to be absolute jokes.